Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Relational Friction in the "Long Runs" of life

Short runs don’t produce enough skin on skin or skin on
fabric friction to cause problems.When
you get beyond 20 miles on a long run, if proper preparation wasn’t taken, you
will know it. It is especially bad on an out and back trail run, because there
are no stores, or any signs of civilization.

What is proper preparation for friction in the long run’s of
life?

In actual long runs, there are numerous preparations.Some use strategically placed band aids.Some use some type of lubricating gel lotion
on any place where skin is meeting skin or fabric.Many take a tube of Chap Stick for lip issues
and/or friction issues.It’s light
weight and is invaluable when needed.

While running the Boston Marathon, I saw an aid station
worker at the 20 mile mark holding up a Popsicle stick with some goo looking
stuff on it.I picked it up, thinking it
was something to eat, but right before I put it in mouth; I realized it was
petroleum jelly.Fortunately, I didn’t need it for nutrition or
for friction, but many others did.

In current culture so many people change partners, jobs,
churches, houses within five years.Those
that change after a few years, never really get the privilege of working out
those areas of relational friction.Real
friction happens after 20 years or so.It is in the long run that you need more and better preparation.

If you are facing lots of relational friction, maybe the
answer isn’t change, but a strategically placed band aid (grace) or the social equivalent
of petroleum jelly (forgiveness) being handed out on a Popsicle stick by the human resources
person, marriage counselor, or pastoral staff.Just don’t eat it, apply it.